"Our nation's long, tragic, failed war on drugs has taken
a disproportionate toll on people of color," said Oscar Eason, Jr., the president of the National Association for the Advancement for Colored People
Alaska Oregon Washington State-Area Conference. "We need to end
the drug war immediately and replace it with a common-sense approach. I call
on Oregon's business, civic -- and especially its religious leaders to
add their voices to the coalition getting behind Oregon Measure
80."

If voters pass Measure 80 in November, it would officially legalize the production, distribution and sale of marijuana for those over 21, even for recreation uses. Supporters say it would free up law enforcement resources to focus on "public-safety threats."

Roy Kaufmann, the spokesman for Measure 80, said the NAACP's support was "a strong signal to mainstream voters that replacing failed prohibition with
effective regulation both makes sense and is the right thing to do."